Nearly 300 participants from various countries attended
the conference in Brussels on 26-27 February 2007.

reconcile the economic and social challenges
facing the people involved, as well as the need
to preserve the great ecological wealth contained in the forests, will hopefully enable the
conditions of sustainable development in the
DRC to be achieved.

To p i c a l i s s u e s

J U N E 0 7 | NR 2

5

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Congo’s forests

GLOSSARY

Biomass : total mass of living organisms

Ecological treasure-trove and green lung of Africa

within a specific habitat (roots, branches, leaves)

Ecosystem : complex formed by an association or
community of living organisms and its geological,

WITH A SURFACE AREA OF 1,700,000 KM2, 400 SPECIES OF MAMMALS AND 10,000 PLANT SPECIES,

THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST OF THE CONGO BASIN IS AN ECOLOGICAL TREASURE-TROVE, THE SECOND LARGEST
FOREST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD AFTER AMAZONIA. A VAST GREEN LUNG, THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF FRANCE
AND FIFTY-FIVE TIMES THE SIZE OF BELGIUM!

the soil to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and
by transpiration from plants

dioxide (CO2). In global terms, the volume of

the country. Currently, the DRC has the

mal and plant life the forest harbours. Of the

CO2 absorbed by forests is 45 times greater

dubious honour of being 21st in the ranking of

10,000 recorded plant species in the forest,

than annual emissions from fossil fuel com-

greenhouse-gas-emitting countries (ahead of

3,300 are endemic (i.e. only found in the

bustion and cement manufacture. The DRC’s

Belgium, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland

DRC). There are also 39 endemic mammal spe-

forests account for 8% of this volume, making

and the Netherlands), due almost exclusively

cies. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos are

them the largest forest carbon sink in Africa,

to the bleaching of the ‘green carpet’, which is

forest natives, as are the okapi and the Congo

and the fourth largest in the world.

shrinking by the day as the loggers advance.

Finally, we must mention the exceptional ani-

The surprising flora of the Ruwenzori Mountains (Virunga National Park), whose peaks are covered in glaciers and permanent snow.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PLAY THEIR
PART. HERE WE LOOK AT EFFORTS
TO REHABILITATE PROTECTED
AREAS AND PRESERVE THE MOST
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND
ECOSYSTEMS.

Olivier STEVENS and Julie LEDUC

greatly on their acceptance by surrounding
communities.

has been the case elsewhere in the region,

HOWEVER, THIS EXCEPTIONAL

AND IF WE ARE TO SAVE IT

the success of these measures depends

The end of the conflict also brings risks. As

ANIMAL AND PLANT DIVERSITY.

BIODIVERSITY IS UNDER THREAT,

in Virunga. Local involvement is important as

State of emergency

also had a negative effect on fauna, flora and

ring parties in a bid to establish genuine

poaching is likely to increase as the timber

he history of Congo’s natural parks

T

Currently,

on

the forest preservation structure, which cea-

‘conservation diplomacy’. In addition, structu-

industry picks up and roads are opened into

dates back to 1925 when the Virunga

UNESCO’s World Heritage List are also on the

sed to function. This has left ecosystems all

res have been set up to manage ecological

remote forest areas which were previously

National Park (the first of its kind in

World Heritage in Danger List and many pro-

the poorer, with Virunga hippopotamuses mas-

data and basic maps of the five World

inaccessible to hunters and poachers.

Africa) was created in the north-east of the

tected areas now only exist on paper2. The

sacred, the elephant population at World

Heritage Sites have been developed using

country to preserve the celebrated mountain

problems are manifold but the major cause of

Heritage Sites decimated and only a handful

satellite imagery. This has enabled the rele-

Human resources needed

gorilla. Eight decades later and the DRC boasts

decline in biodiversity is human activity: agri-

of white rhinos thought to remain. However,

vant data to be updated.

Discussions at the Brussels Conference high-

60 officially protected areas, including five

culture, hunting, wood collecting and so on.

this should not blind us to the efforts being

World Heritage Sites. They are home to some of

Other scourges include armed groups who

made to keep this heritage alive, in particular

One thing is certain: rehabilitation of the pro-

materials and infrastructure. Thirty or forty

the world’s most remarkable species, many uni-

poach threatened species, the illegal trade in

by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation

tected areas will take time as the entire net-

years ago, technical staff were well trained,

que to the DRC, including the bonobo, the nor-

bush meat, forest exploitation and illegal

work has to be re-evaluated. The creation of

but since then, as in other areas, things have

thern white rhino, the Congo peafowl, the extre-

mining.

de la Nature (Congolese Institute for Nature
Conservation, ICCN) which is responsible for
managing it, and its many partners. The
mountain gorilla population in Virunga has
risen, thanks mainly to more effective patrols;
some occupied land has been recovered and
contact has been made with the various war-

new areas has already begun, the ultimate aim

stagnated. Fortunately, the country still has a

being to have 15% of the national territory

small pool of vocational experts, although

designated protected area, as required by the

many of them are now nearing retirement.

Forest Code (compared with around 8%

Studies in 2005 revealed an estimated need

today). The task is a complex one: armed

for around 700 engineers and 2,000 techni-

groups, military outposts, local people and

cians3. New approaches calling for appro-

the

five

national

parks

mely rare okapi and the less well-known aquatic
genet. The country’s biodiversity is also evident

Local involvement
The conflicts of interest that frequently arise
between nature conservation groups and peo-

Marshland near Lake Tumba.

ple living on the outskirts of national parks
highlight how important it is to involve local
communities, in terms of both environmental
protection and the use of environmental knowledge. Hunting reserves once served as buffer
zones around parks; today, however, demographic pressure is such that they are no longer
fulfilling their role. The solution being advocated is one of ‘participatory management’ that
attempts to reconcile the interests of all parties. However, if such projects are to succeed,
they need to offer economic alternatives to
local population groups, e.g. income-generating activities and the provision of socio-economic infrastructure.

Bush meat hunter on an access road in the region of Bandundu. These roads open up the tropical forest,
making it accessible to commercial poachers, amongst others.

EXTRACT FROM THE BRUSSELS
DECLARATION

« The conference brought to light
that the maintenance of the
biodiversity of the Congo’s forests,
their genetic potential and their
contribution to the Earth’s
environmental balance are also
global issues that go far beyond
the boundaries of the Congo itself.
They highlight the need for
mobilisation on a regional
and international scale.»

Tourism: another source of finance
Promoting tourism whilst preserving the fundamental balances between natural environments is another task of the ICCN. The return
of tourism should generate capital that can be

THROUGH CARBON CAPTURE AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, TROPICAL
FORESTS HELP TO REGULATE THE CLIMATE AND PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE
IN COMBATING GLOBAL WARMING.

used to meet staff and operating costs in protected areas. However, if this is to succeed,
transport and accommodation facilities will
need to be developed. Rwanda is a good example of what can be achieved in this respect:
green tourism, driven mainly by gorillas, is now
the country’s third largest source of foreign

Villagers are encouraged to breed cane rats
to ease pressure on bush meat.

Carbon: a cycle of life

they return to being CO2 in the atmosphere.

fixed operating costs such as wardens’ sala-

transformed by plant photosynthesis into

more than three or four years, whereas nature

(CONGOLESE INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION)

conservation is a long-term goal requiring
long-term investment. Another priority is therefore to ensure long-term international commitment, without which there is no prospect
of achieving lasting results. The creation of a
fiduciary fund for nature conservation is one
answer to the lack of secure funding sources.

Deforestation and carbon sinks

Biomass
Dead biomass

Oceans

A growing forest acts as a carbon sink. Why?
Because the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2)

(soil, peat)

organic matter, which is then ingested by her-

absorbed by growing trees through photosyn-

bivores, who are in turn eaten by carnivores,

thesis is greater than the amount of CO2

all of whom release CO2 as they breathe.
Recent studies show that plant matter absorbs

Founded in 1975, the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, ICCN, is a technical and scientific public body
whose tasks are to manage and conserve biodiversity in the protected areas, to encourage and promote scientific
research and eco-development, to develop eco-tourism with respect for the fundamental principles of nature conservation and to integrate conservation into the local development process for people living near protected areas.
Some 2,000 staff from a variety of disciplines including vets, biologists, geographers, economists, agronomists,
financial and legal experts and historians are working to implement an effective conservation plan to preserve the
DRC’s biological diversity.

bon cycle and contributes to global warming.

take place: this is known as the carbon cycle.
Some of the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the

INSTITUT CONGOLAIS POUR LA CONSERVATION DE LA NATURE

Atmosphere

into various ‘pools’ between which exchanges

atmosphere is dissolved in the ocean; some is

made it impossible for projects to think ahead

Weak fluxes

This ‘additional’ CO2 disrupts the natural car-

example, funding needs to be found to meet

ICCN

Slow fluxes

quantity remains the same and is divided up

pardised at any time by a lack of funds. For

ries. Political instability and conflicts have

Fast fluxes

Carbon is omnipresent on Earth. Its overall

more carbon dioxide (around 2 billion tonnes)
than it releases. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
resulting form the decomposition of organic
life over millions of years constitute ‘trapped’

released by their respiration and by the

Fossil
carbon
oil,
coal,
gas

decomposition of dead trees. When most of

Limestone

the trees have stopped growing, equilibrium is

(calcium carbonate)

reached and a CO2 balance attained, meaning
that the forest is no longer a carbon sink. This
is why only reforestation projects, not natural

« The Conference acknowledges the
innovative character of several
initiatives, such as the creation of
carbon sinks through reforestation. »

13

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For a long time, war and political instability protected

Currently, a dozen firms hold over half of the logging

Congo’s forests from industrial logging. Even today, their

permits covering an area of some 10 million hectares.

to development. Another major benefit of Ibi-

Pragmatic development …
in the medium and long terms

distance from the sea and the lack of infrastructure

The majority of these are Congolese, Belgian, French,

Batéké is that it will create a vast refuge for

The project’s managers have their sights

(ports, roads) mean they are relatively well preserved

German, Italian, Portuguese and Lebanese. At the start

trees native to the region, help combat the

wildlife, offering subsistence and ideal condi-

firmly fixed on 2020, when the forest cur-

from looting. Nonetheless, between 2000 and 2005, the

of the decade, 340 forestry permits covering an area of

greenhouse effect and contribute to the eco-

tions for reproduction.

rently being planted (acacias, eucalyptus and

country lost over 300,000 hectares of forest a year, equi-

43 million hectares were allocated at risible prices with

pines) will be ready to meet worldwide

valent to 600,000 football pitches. This makes the DRC

no guarantee of transparency. In 2002, permits repre-

Holistic approach is vital

demand for paper pulp fibres and biofuel

the 8th most deforested country in the world.

senting 25 million hectares were declared invalid. At the

he aim of the Ibi-Batéké carbon sink

T

jobs it generates, could provide a major boost

project is threefold: replant a damaged area of Congolese forest using

nomic and social development of a whole
region.

carbone

«A lot is at stake here. As so often, we are

cellulose.

Admittedly, compared with other tropical countries, the

same time, the Congolese government introduced a

is the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) derived

8 million trees over 8,000 hectares

having to use what may seem contradictory

« The main obstacle with this type of project is

rate of deforestation is still relatively low. But looking at

moratorium on the allocation of new forest use rights

from the combustion of fossil fuels and defo-

The project is located on the Batéké plateau,

methods and resources. Our top priority is to

convincing investors and donors of long-term

things in this way, we run the risk of…. missing the

and instituted a forest code, one of whose provisions is

restation? With the carbon cycle now seriously

which stretches from Gabon to Angola, either

save the equatorial forest for its own sake.

profitability,” Olivier Muschiete explains.

forest for the trees. In fact, although the logging is

that classified forests should cover 15% of the DRC’s

disrupted by human activities, these questions

side of the Congo river, two hours from

After much reflection, we feel that a forest

“Here, the first seven or eight years will see no

selective, it is terribly damaging as it takes the best and

territory (as against 8% today).

are becoming vitally important. For man’s

Kinshasa. At these latitudes, with their equa-

area can generate great benefits, both econo-

return. In the Congolese context, this is a diffi-

leaves the rest. Operations are focused on a dozen com-

Although backed up by a presidential decree in 2005,

impact on the carbon cycle is not measured

torial rains, we would expect to find dense

mic and socio-cultural, in the medium and

cult thing to get people to accept. That said, I

mercially valuable species, which account for almost

this moratorium has been consistently flouted. As for

solely in terms of CO2 and the climate, but also

rainforest: instead, natural grassy savannahs,

long

Olivier

have managed to secure the involvement of key

90% of production. To reach these, vast swathes of

controls on forest use, these are non-existent at present.

of disruption to ecosystems. The aim, therefore,

dotted with scrawny bushes, stretch away into

Muschiete explains. Planting, maintaining

local partners such as the Congolese govern-

forest are opened up, into which plough armies of

However, though the battle to preserve Africa’s ‘green

is to conserve as many as possible of the exis-

the distance. The project aims to convert this

and harvesting acacias, eucalyptus, pines and

ment, the various ministries concerned, the

log-hauling vehicles, followed immediately by poachers.

lung’ seems fraught with difficulties, it has not been

What role is played by plant respiration? What

terms,”

project

manager

ting forest CO2 sinks through measures such as

unproductive savannah into a source of rene-

other native species will create a lot of direct

local chiefs as well as international partners

Several varieties are so overexploited that they now

lost yet; it may well be that the challenge of climate

combating deforestation, creating forest reser-

wable biomass, by planting 8 million trees

jobs. “As is often the case with attempts to

who are more inclined to commit to long-term

appear on the endangered species list compiled by

change spurs us on to find alternatives to unsustainable

ves and changing forestry systems.

over 8,000 hectares.

optimise the development potential of Central

projects if there is effective daily follow-up.»

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered

industrial logging.

First and foremost, it is an ecological way of

African countries, the difficulty comes with

tackling global warming. But it is also a social

thinking in a holistic way that combines the

precious species may disappear entirely. Particularly

and economic revolution for the region: villa-

philosophical and the macro-economic and

endangered are the afromosia, wenge and sapelli.

gers will need to be trained to manage the

creating real projects that involve all players

forest, i.e. to tap its resources effectively.

without deviating from the initial premise,»,

Eventually, the forest, with the resources and

Muschiete says.

GLOSSARY

M-C.B. and O.S.

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Eventually, these
F.L.
SOURCES GREENPEACE BELGIUM AND WWF DRC

SOURCES CITÉ DES SCIENCES, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, IBI VILLAGE

Madjoko, Bandundu. A concession

Carbon sink : a natural or artificial carbon pool that is
constantly expanding (in contrast to a carbon source). The

A WWF-supported nursery near Virunga National Park. A growing forest acts as a carbon sink.

main sinks were once the biological processes responsible for
coal, oil, natural gas and methane hydrates, together with
limestone rocks. Nowadays, oceans and certain plant environments are the biggest sinks.

perature at which decomposition takes place is
key to the quality of the end product, with
around 500°C needed to obtain good quality
charcoal. This process, known as ‘carbonisation’, can be performed on most types of wood.

W

will then be processed using a variety of pro-

only 2.5 times less energy than a kilogramme

Benefits of converting wood into charcoal

Democratic Republic of Congo are very similar

of oil when burnt. In industrialised regions, oil

Currently, the most common type of wood pro-

to those in neighbouring countries. In villages,

has largely replaced wood due to its availabi-

cessing

charcoal.

unprocessed wood is often used for cooking

lity and ease of use. In most African coun-

Unprocessed wood is not ideal for domestic

and heating but charcoal is also produced on

tries, however, wood remains the primary

cooking and heating, for a number of reasons.

a very small scale. A fire is lit and fed until the

domestic fuel, although oil is necessary for

The first is the presence of water in the wood.

flames disappear; it is then spread out and

certain kinds of application (such as cars).

This increases the wood’s mass while reducing

allowed to cool. The resulting product is par-

When oil becomes less readily available, it is

its energy content and produces a dense, opa-

tially carbonised wood. The process is ineffi-

likely that we will return to more intensive use

que smoke when the wood is burnt. The

cient as the wood is exposed to the air, cau-

of wood in order to limit our impact on the

second reason is that, when the wood is burnt,

sing much of the carbon to burn away without

Earth’s climate and our environment. Wood

volatile elements are released which give the

producing charcoal.

ood is a natural resource heavily
exploited for its energy content. A

cedures geared towards efficient use.

kilogramme of dry wood releases

Charcoal production in the DRC

The DRC is located in the centre of the African forest area
Dense moist forests
Dry forests and savannahs

The park's immense savannahs, grasslands and
woodlands, interspersed with gallery forests along the river
banks and the swampy depressions, are home to four large
mammals: the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and above all
the white rhinoceros. Though much larger than the black
rhino, it is harmless; only a few individuals remain.

Lake
Albert

OKAPI WILDLIFE RESERVE

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth
of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the country. The Congo
river basin, of which the reserve and forest are a part, is one

Forests and
World Heritage sites

of the largest drainage systems in Africa. The reserve contains
Lake
Edouard
Lake
Ntomba

the estimated 30,000 okapi surviving in the wild. It also has
some dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and
Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic

The protected areas cover 10% of the 2,345,480 km2 of
Congolese territory, and include 60 protected areas, 7 of which

threatened species of primates and birds and about 5,000 of

pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters.

Lake
Mai-Ndombe
Lake
Kivu

are national parks and 5 are World Heritage sites. The latter are
all inscribed on the list of endangered World Heritage..

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK

Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha)
comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from
swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude
of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slo-

Atlantic Ocean

pes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some
20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia
spend the winter there.

KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK
Lake
Tanganyika

Vegetation Map

A vast area of primary tropical forest dominated by
two spectacular extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega, the park
has a diverse and abundant fauna. One of the last groups of

Salonga National Park is Africa's largest tropical
rainforest reserve. Situated at the heart of the central basin of
the Congo river, the park is very isolated and accessible only
by water. It is the habitat of many endemic endangered species, such as the dwarf chimpanzee, the Congo peacock, the

This map is a simplified version of the land cover map of the Democratic Republic of Congo that was
published in January 2006 (http://www.uclouvain.be/enge-cartesRDC).
Carried out by C. Vancutsem, J.-F. Pekel, J.-P. Kibambe Luamba, X. Blaes, C. de Wasseige et P.
Defourny. Research Unit Environmetrics and Geomatics, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
With the support of the Belgian federal scientific policy and in close collaboration with Mr.C. Evrard,
F. Malaisse, P. Mayaux and Mr. J.-P. Malingreau.
A detailed map of each World Heritage site has been designed in the framework of the Sytème de
gestion d’Information pour les Aires Protégées (Information management system for the protected
areas) (ICCN-UCL-UGent-Unesco, 2007).

Forests in Post-Conflict Democratic Republic of Congo: Analysis of a Priority Agenda, CIFOR, CIRAD, World Bank (2007).
The Forests of the Congo Basin: State of the Forest 2006, Congo Basin Forest Partnership (2006).

first got involved in combating illegal
forest exploitation back in 1998. I feel

that if we don’t act fast and take the necesfact, most Pygmy groups speak their own lan-

In other words, then, the Pygmies have not

the transition to an urban existence, they are

sary measures, the Congolese forest could

hunt is extremely important and illustrates the

guages which are specific to themselves yet

lived cut off from the rest of the world in some

faced with identity problems and a sense of

disappear. The government and donors give

holistic link between the Pygmies and the

also related to other African languages. This is

kind of ‘forest cocoon’. For centuries, they

disorientation. Today, governments have a vital

priority to economic interests without taking

environment in which they live. Each hunt is

evidence of age-old ties. The mythological

have been involved in the movement of peo-

role to play in safeguarding these peoples.

into

preceded by a divination session during which

importance of the Pygmies in the eyes of the

ples, playing a select role in a group of inter-

Enshrining the right of peoples to exist and

Congolese forest is home to around 40 million

the soothsayer ‘reads’ the flames of a great fire

Grands Noirs is another argument in favour of
this. These ties are found in religion, cosmogony and magic, as well as possession rites,
traditional therapies and enthronement rites.
Based on this, many people believe that the
forest Pygmies acted as guides for the Grands
Noirs during their migrations.
This deep-founded relationship is more relevant than ever before and is critical when
considering the problem of deforestation. More
than a purely economic tie, it is a genuine
alliance in which the social system of each
partner needs the other to survive and relies on
the contribution of the partner society.

connected societies. By keeping alive their

the protection of minorities must go hand-in-

people! How scandalous would it be if it and

nomadic lifestyle, their music, their language

hand with an effective forest policy, founded

all its inhabitants disappeared! No more hun-

and religion, they are striving to maintain their

on a combination of our scientific knowledge

age-old familiarity with the equatorial forest.

and the intuitive knowledge of the Pygmies.

to discover how the hunt will progress and the
best direction to take. He also tries to establish
the cause of misfortunes and illnesses. In
extremely simplified terms, it is the spirit of

ting, no more picking or gathering – it would
be a death sentence for all those poor peo-

Seeking to « remove» the Pygmies from some

ple.” This politically committed women, who

Plea for a pragmatic and philosophical
approach

nature reserves is ridiculous; it merely attests

is also President of the Union for the Emancipation of Indigenous

to a desire to separate them artificially from

Women (UEFA) in Bukavu, is scathing in her criticism: “When the

« Deforestation is like a genocide without the

an environment that frightens us. Thinking

loggers come, they often take no account of the indigenous people,

weapons, » Jean Nke Ndih concludes. « The

along the lines of Rousseau’s ‘social contract’,

even though the forest belongs more to them than to anyone. In

Pygmies and other forest peoples can teach us

what we need today is a « natural contract»-

exchange for a handful of salt or a few bars of soap, they destroy great

the real meaning of « to take away ».

, a holistic view offering Westerners and other

swathes of forest. The worst thing is there are no reforestation sche-

Westerners often view the forest as hostile and

local tribes a different relationship with nature

mes.” She goes on in the same vein: “Civil society must support the

fraught with dangers. For Pygmies, the forest

and hence with society. In this era of great cli-

government in establishing effective management of this natural heri-

means paradise, protection and development.

matic change, only the Pygmy peoples appre-

tage and ensuring that it takes into account the interests of local

the Pygmies and the Grands Noirs* has provi-

In their world, nature sets the tone. We are

ciate the daily impact of certain choices we

communities. I also want to see women getting involved in the fight.

ded balance in the life of African societies. «

already reaping the benefits of this in the field

make. We need to take a long, hard, philoso-

Whether as advisers, mothers or wives, they can make a substantial

As I said before,» Jean Nke Ndih continues,

of pharmaceuticals; our knowledge comple-

phical look at the repercussions of our econo-

and positive contribution to effective forest management in the same

«the Pygmies are not the only people to occupy

ments theirs. Deforestation poses a threat to

mic decisions. Globalisation is also a ques-

way they manage their homes - but they have to be allowed to get

them and they do not have the organisational

tion of detail. »

involved. Women have some valuable comments to make which can

the forest that whispers the answers, its
constant aim being to ensure a balanced regeneration of the world. »

Multiple interrelations
Contrary to popular belief, the Pygmies are not
isolated peoples who evolved away from the
rest of the world. From time immemorial, the
social, cultural and economic pact between

this forest area. Linguistics, oral tradition and
ethnolinguistics can teach us a lot about their
relations with the peoples of Central Africa. In

*The Grands Noirs (Tall Blacks) are the Pygmies’
Bantu neighbours. The term was used by the first
Westerners to reach Pygmy encampments, which
were always situated deep in impenetrable forest.

structure to defend themselves. Often caught

generate good ideas and positive changes, if only they are taken on

mid-way between their ancestral lifestyle and

board. »

Special feature

J U N E 0 7 | NR 2

René Ngongo , 46, married, father of four
Environmental activist

25

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Jacquie Batasemae
44, widowed mother of 12

Mother

Iyane Oyongo Luison
46, married, father of four

“W

Forest worker

e began raising public awareness through radio programmes
back in 1992. That wasn’t enough so we set up OCEAN

[Organisation Concertée des Ecologistes et Amis de la Nature] to raise
awareness amongst the various players about the importance of preserving the forest and make appeals at local, national and international
level. OCEAN now operates in the Eastern
Province and North and South Kivu and has been
up and running in Kinshasa for the past two years.
Forest exploitation in the DRC has been pretty
disorganised until now, » he continues. « Before
the Third Republic, there were a lot of shady practices in the sector. The then Environment Minister
signed a moratorium but this was flouted by his
own ministry. The present government has only
just started work so it’s difficult to judge. That
said, I hope that it will stick to its pledges, including the one on transparent management of natural resources. » He goes on to list his demands:
«We want to see compliance with all legal provisions. The code was passed in August 2002 but there are not enough
support measures. We need to speed up the conversion process and
ensure that everybody’s rights are restored. Those who don’t meet the
conditions should hand back their supply guarantees to the state. In this
respect, OCEAN is in favour of a moratorium until government capacity
is strong enough and national and participatory zoning is in place. »
Ngongo believes another measure is vital: « We also need certification for
logging firms. The European and American markets are increasingly particular about wood from tropical forests. They want legal, certified timber. Consumers who buy the wood don’t want to feel they are contributing to deforestation in Africa or anywhere else in the tropical zone. The
government needs to work alongside the private sector and civil society
on this.

due to the equipment used. Thanks to new
technologies, the scientific equipment is now
highly sophisticated (satellites, aerial photos

ill in the forest, far from my children. But I

and GPS), giving us an accurate overview of the working area. »

don’t have any other choice if I want to feed
them. I don’t use the wood at home; I live in
Kinshasa and my house has electricity. I sell

Ultimately, the biggest problem in Luisen’s view is a human one:

it to my customers - women who sell chik-

« The local people don’t always understand what we’re doing.

wange [fermented dough made from water

They think that loggers just come along and destroy the forest

and manioc flour] and lotoko [a drink made

whereas in reality logging is in no way intended to harm people’s

from fermented maize]. I also sell it at big

interests. »

Often, we see logs being driven past and our immediate reaction is to

events when people use wood to cook with.

He stresses: « Loggers abide by the forest code, unlike some

condemn the logging firms. But take a closer look and you realise that

Some housewives also come to get wood for

others. Most of the locals are illiterate and don’t understand how

local communities are also abusing the forest. A few years ago, you

cooking. »

the system works. Often they believe the small NGOs who bang

weren’t allowed to fell caterpillar trees. Now they’re doing it in the villa-

on about overexploitation and poor forest management. In fact,

ges. People no longer have jobs and this is the only way they can make

logging in the DRC has been proven to have minimal impact. It

ends meet. On top of this comes the problem of slash-and-burn agriculture. Villages cut down large swathes of forest to make way for fields. Two
or three years later, these fields are no longer productive and they have
to create more by felling more trees. »

even takes account of the needs of local people by offering some
Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
The wardens know their patch like the back of
their hands and often risk their lives in their
efforts to protect the country’s heritage.

of them jobs. »

L a Vo i x d u C o n g o P r o f o n d

J U N E 0 7 | NR 2

27

>

Loading charcoal bound for Kinshasa. Charcoal is easier to
package and transport than wood.

« WHEN THE FOREST
IS DAMAGED, FARMERS’
INCOME FALLS »
Alain HUART

Sustainable forest

productivity will eventually drop due to the

management
and poverty
The great majority of the DRC’s rural population rely on
the forest for their day-to-day needs.

IMPROVING CULTIVATION PRACTICES AND INCREASING THE COUNTRY’S
ELECTRIFICATION RATE (CURRENTLY 6%) ARE KEY TO
PRESERVING THE DRC’S FORESTS. YET ON THE GROUND VERY LITTLE
IS HAPPENING IN THESE AREAS.
« LA VOIX DU CONGO PROFOND »
PROVIDES A LINK BETWEEN
FARMERS AND THE AUTHORITIES,
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONVERT The forest of Mayumbe, in the province of
FARMERS TO CULTIVATION Bas-Congo, has been severely damaged as a
PRACTICES THAT PROVIDE result of reckless industrial exploitation.
DECENT YIELDS WHILST ALSO How has this deforestation affected local
SAFEGUARDING THE ECOSYSTEM. people?

In your view, what is the link between deforestation and poverty in urban and rural areas?
ALAIN HUART

Near the Virunga National Park. The cultivation of food crops is
now likely to be the biggest direct cause of deforestation.
Firewood collection also has a big impact around towns and
cities and in densely populated countryside.

tion intégrés des Forêts Tropicales (regional post-university school for integrated development and management of tropical forests, ERAIFT - Kinshasa)
ERAIFT is the only regional school of its type in the DRC. It trains experts
in a range of disciplines associated with the development and sustainable
management of natural resources. ERAIFT works in close cooperation with
the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (Congolese
Institute for Nature Conservation, ICCN), some of whose activities are also
financed or co-financed by Belgium.
IMPLEMENTATION

Third year of the specialist vocational training diploma (DESS) in integrated
development and management of tropical forests and territories (2005)

: UNESCO

BELGIAN CONTRIBUTION

l’Information sur les Aires Protégées (Protected
Area Information Management System,
SYGIAP), intended to support the ICCN. Basic
maps and satellite image maps of the five
World Heritage Sites have been published as
part of the project. The programme is also working to develop an information and monitoring
system (Geographical Information System –
GIS) that will enable the ICCN to manage collected data relating to biodiversity, as well as
patrols and illegal activities. Finally, in collaboration with the Royal Museum for Central
Africa and the European Commission/Central
African Forests Observatory, the project aims
to integrate socio-economic and cultural data
in order to compile pressure indicators and
develop a participatory approach to the creation of development plans and zoning of parks
and buffer zones.
: UNESCO, ICCN, Ghent University,
Université Catholique de Louvain
BUDGET : €850,000 (2003-2008)

IMPLEMENTATION

Conserving nature and protecting biodiversity

Two botanists identify samples before entering them
in the herbarium created by the NGO WCS.

concepts and to develop procedures for negoSupporting sustainable development and

tiating with the private sector, notably by

conservation of forest ecosystems by helping

means of implementing decrees.

to safeguard forest tax revenues for the State
and boosting the contribution of forest
exploitation activities to the socio-economic

Accurate and up-to-date forest data are valuable for drawing
up policies, managing protected sites and protecting threatened
species and ecosystems.

IMPLEMENTATION

: FAO

BELGIAN CONTRIBUTION

: US$ 1,219,270 (2007–2009)

development of local people. The programme
operates on three fronts. Firstly, it provides
technical support at national level for the
development of forest policy and drawing up
decrees and by-laws based on the new forest
legislation. Secondly, an agreement has been
reached with the operator of a forest concession in the Cuvette region regarding social
development and the preservation of biodiversity in the concession. The company will
undergo checks with a view to securing

The bonobo. The last of the great apes to be discovered;
also the least well known and the least protected

forest management certification and timber
labelling. The third component is situated in
Bas-Congo, a region where much forest clearance has taken place and where pressure on
the remaining forest ecosystems is intense. It
focuses on conservation and development in
a buffer zone around a forest reserve in Luki.

Forest Governance
Joint multi-donor fund for improving forest
governance
This joint initiative, managed by the World

: WWF
: €1,750,000 (2003-2008)

IMPLEMENTATION
BUDGET

Bank, supports implementation of the Forest
Code and the Priority Agenda for Congolese

Biodiversity protection programme at World Heritage Sites in the DRC

reforms.

This multi-donor programme aims to conserve five UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Virunga,

The joint fund has four main components:

Kahuzi-Biega, Garamba and Salonga national parks and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve). These

1. Sustainable forest use and improved gover-

parks are home to globally important but seriously endangered biodiversity (including rare and

nance in the forest sector;

endemic species such as the mountain gorilla, bonobo, okapi and northern white rhino).

EXTRACT FROM THE BRUSSELS

Currently, Belgium’s support is financing the implementation of emergency action plans to reha-

DECLARATION

bilitate the Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga national parks and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. A national

« Given the complexity of the stakes
at issue, a single party cannot meet
the challenge alone. Multi-player
partnerships are now more crucial
than ever, and international
involvement is a vital factor. »

2. development of communities of forest
populations;
3. overarching support for implementation of
the Forest Code;
4. administrative support and institution building.
Belgium is contributing €500,000 (France
€200,000 and the European Commission €3
million). UK development cooperation has also
pledged US$ 500,000.

Exhibition
«Knock on wood» is a new
temporary exhibition, due to open at the Royal
Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren, Belgium)
in October 2007. Boasting a contemporary and
interactive format, this multidisciplinary exhibition will allow visitors to find out more about
wood in general, and tropical woods in particular, and
will look at sustainable management of Central
Africa’s forests.

Publications
Quel avenir pour les forêts de la
République démocratique du Congo?
Innovative instruments and mechanisms
for sustainable management of the forests.
Belgian Technical Cooperation's scientific review.
This issue aims to build on the discussions and
debates at the Brussels conference on sustainable management
of forests in the DRC. The review contains three chapters: the
tools of knowledge; institutional instruments for good forest
governance; and economic instruments supporting non-extractive
activities.
Can be downloaded (in French) from: www.btcctb.org

The Forests of the Congo Basin:
State of the Forest 2006
Published by the Congo Basin Forest
Partnership (CBFP), 256 pages
A summary of available information on the state
and development of forests in the Congo Basin,
the threats facing them and the impact of human
activity. Can be downloaded in English and French from:
www.cbfp.org ou www.comifac.org

One of the centrepieces
of the exhibition.

Creation of the Belgian
Reference Centre for Expertise
on Central Africa (CRE –AC)
Its tasks are to:
– catalogue available expertise in
Belgium (private sector, scientific
research and NGOs) on issues relating
to Belgian development cooperation
priorities in Central Africa;
– create synergies between these three
platforms;
– formulate recommendations for improving development activities.

Understand the forest, its role and how it is managed,
and learn about wood as a material - probably the
oldest yet also the most contemporary material available.
The exhibition is aimed at a broad public, including
families and schools. A number of special events
(meetings, discussions, lectures) will be held to complement the exhibition and a Wood Collection catalogue of the RMCA’s xylarium and scientific work will be
made available.
www.africamuseum.be

This book catalogues sustainable use and management of forests in Central Africa over the past
decade.

Forests in Post-Conflict Democratic
Republic of Congo: Analysis of a
Priority Agenda
Published by CIFOR, the World Bank and CIRAD,
2007, 82 pages
This book profiles the Congolese forestry sector at
the start of 2006. It analyses the reforms implemented since 2002 and recommends priorities for the next four to
five years. Can be downloaded in English and French from:
www.cifor.cgiar.org

forests in the DRC
(Brussels, February 2007) :

1. increased budget for raising public awareness in Belgium and Europe;
is a monthly magazine published by the
Congolese Agriculture Ministry. It was
launched in January 2007 with the technical and financial support of the BTC
consultancy fund and provides a link between the central government, the decentralised departments of the Agriculture
Ministry and the farmers.
The magazine offers a conduit for information on the comparative advantages of
each DRC province as well as business
opportunities in the agricultural sector.
It also features new cultivating techniques
and encourages farmers to maximise their
yields. Infos: solopanzu2002@yahoo.fr

A SELECTION OF REACTIONS TO THE FIRST EDITION OF « &CO », WHICH SPOTLIGHTED THE POST-ELECTORAL
EMERGENCY PROGRAMME, CLEAN-UP WORK IN KINSHASA, WATER MANAGEMENT AND BTC PROJECTS
IN THE DRC, AMONGST OTHER ISSUES.

I read the first edition of your magazine with some interest. As the head of a local NGO, la Dynamique des
Jeunes pour la Paix et le Développement, I have a particular interest in the issues raised (…) I hope that &CO
will give us the opportunity to start a dialogue on the
effectiveness and efficiency of activities in the field.
About clean-up work in Kinshasa:
(…) We are sometimes scandalised to see well-to-do
Congolese hurling bananas skins or bags out of their
air-conditioned cars and their less well-to-do counterparts throwing rubbish next to Council bins. Basically,
the Congolese in general, whether university graduates
or farmers, have not been brought up to a culture of
cleanliness;
(…) All the BTC’s action programmes are worthwhile
and may well reap temporary rewards. However, these
actions need to be incorporated into our culture if they
are to be efficient and durable as well as effective. (…)
Faustin KOMBE

(…) I hope you realise that we in the east are (…) in
great need of any encouragement and initiatives that
will help us to launch, and in particular, consolidate the
peace process and bring together communities on an
objective basis. I think that your magazine will be a vital
tool in this respect (…) The magazine will also hopefully be a way of diffusing the animosity felt by young
people due to their perception that all the country’s woes
are predominantly down to Belgium and the Belgians.
Not an easy task (…)

7

2. political intervention to place Congo’s forests
on the agenda of the next G8 meeting;
3. creation of a Belgian Task Force to study the
possibility of Belgian involvement in the two
fiduciary funds to be set up by the World
Bank (financing conservation concessions
and nature conservation measures);
4. the new Belgian Reference Centre for
Expertise on Central Africa (CRE-AC) and the
Royal Museum for Central Africa will monitor
the working groups shortly to be set up by the
Congolese government to prepare the 3rd
Forest Forum in Kinshasa.

« (…) Belgium must press its partners for a truly independent justice system and laws that apply to all (…)
In the water sector, we need to revitalise Regideso [the
national water authority] – whilst encouraging private
initiative in other areas – and focus on instilling a
culture of responsibility in all Congolese: the consumer
pays! Or the payer consumes! What is it about our
society that makes even the best-off Congolese think
they can «consume without paying» ?

«The information is relevant and the layout is very
professional and attractive. In future editions, I would
like to see how the work covered in the sanitation feature
is progressing and also hear from the people involved,
such as members of the municipal sanitation teams.»

7

Emmanuel BUNKETE
Accountant, Emergency Programme, BTC, Kinshasa

Jean Pierre KASUKU
Lecturer at CIDEP/UO, from Goma/North Kivu.

« I see this magazine as a perfect complement to
La voix du Congo profond . It is innovative and should
help to change perceptions of development amongst
both the Congolese partners and donors.
Poverty and the desire for peace, challenges such as
water, roads and hygiene in our cities, not to mention
electricity… For solutions to these problems we must
also look to decentralisation: financial, territorial, even
political.
These are all inescapable issues of immediate concern to
all involved in development in this challenging country.
A small section devoted to practical training on development and education for peace would be welcome. »

7
« It was great to learn about specific BTC activities. The
content is most interesting and we plan to use it on
future radio programmes. That said, I would like to see
more articles on BTC’s activities in the provinces,
especially South Kivu. »

« It’s a shame that virtually the whole magazine was
taken up with BTC’s activities in Kinshasa. I’d like to
have more news from other provinces, especially
activities in the field. Here in Lubumbashi, we hear a lot
about BTC but see very few activities on the ground. »

« I was very interested by the various special features.
However, I think you should attempt some gender
mainstreaming by showing that women are not only
beneficiaries of many projects but are also active forces
in promoting the country’s development. »

(Sterculia quinqueloba) is one of the « spirit trees» used
to communicate with the spirits of the ancestors. These
bush trees provide a bridge between nature and culture.
The Mwabi is used to ask the ancestors for help in certain
cases of « misfortune» (at work, illness, etc..), or to protect an individual’s « beauty» (bulengela) ), i.e. the set of
intrinsic qualities gifted by the ancestors which have to be
protected from the envious. The painting shows the highpoint of the ceremony: the chief men are sitting in the

shade, the women are standing. The woman for whom the
ceremony is being held is seated; at her feet a man sacrifices a chicken to the ancestors, with the eyes of all upon
him. Depending on how the chicken dies, conclusions will
be drawn regarding the woman’s problem. Behind the
patient can be seen a cutting; if the cutting takes, it is a
sign that the ancestors have accepted the sacrifice. The
ceremony is still practised today.
Édouard VINCKE | anthropologist

is the unusual name of this new development magazine.
« CO » stands for COngo, COoperation, COmmitment, COmmunication, etc., while
the ampersand (&) suggests the special bond uniting the DRC and Belgium. The magazine is aimed primarily at key
stakeholders in Congolese society: governmental and non-governmental players, the media, associations, NGOs,
students, the general public and anybody else with an interest in the country’s development.
This special issue on the Congolese forests examines the main topics dealt with at the international conference
on sustainable management of forests in the DRC, which took place in Brussels on February 26-27, 2007 at
the initiative of the Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation. For more information, see the conference website:
www.confordrc.org

« &CO » is produced by BTC’s external communications department and is distributed free of charge.
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
CONTRIBUTORS:

&CO 2 Our forests, our future

Our forests, our future !’ studies the broad topics that were discussed at the international conference on the forests of the DR Congo, held in Brussels in February 2007. When glancing through the magazine, you will discover testimonies of those who live in the forest, of those who use it, sometimes even of those who destroy it, consciously or not. Various articles highlight its priceless value but also its vulnerability. A detachable map of the forests and the 5 sites that are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage will enable you to visualize the extent of this gigantic green lung.